Characteristic Evaluation of an Active Patch Antenna Structure with an Embedded LNA Module for GPS Reception

Abstract

The concept of antenna design with an embedded LNA module is proposed in this work. To demonstrate the concept, a microstrip patch antenna for GPS reception is considered. The antenna is a conventional patch antenna with corners truncated to produce RHCP radiation for GPS reception at 1.575 GHz. A cavity is formed within the substrate of the antenna to accommodate the LNA module so that the built-in LNA may enhance the antenna reception capability without adding external circuits. The resulting patch has the same footprint and thickness as an ordinary passive patch. Simulations and measurements of the prototype antenna indicate that the built-in LNA module introduces no significant changes to the antenna properties except slight shifts on the resonance frequency, which can be corrected by rescaling. The proposed antenna configuration is an attractive option in practical applications for making antennas with small footprints and large gains.